This exciting and accessible book makes it clear that new discoveries are continually emerging from a land where one might assume that the treasure trove of archaeological finds have long been exhausted. Plentiful illustrations accompany a text that illuminates old questions and addresses issues such as: Is the Egyptian hieroglyphic system older than the Mesopotamian script? Did Egyptian pharaohs order the robbing of their ancestors' tombs? How is scientific research on ancient mummies contributing to modern medicine?